Ski sled



Oct. 9, 1962 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office.

3,057,633 Patented Oct. 9, 1962 3,057.633 SKI SLED Marc A. Brousseau, 5976 ewck Ave., Detroit 13, Mich. Filed Apr. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 22,952 8 Claims. (Cl. 280-16) This invention relates to a snow vehicle and refers more particularly to a ski sled.

The old conventional sled having the narrow metal runners can be used only on hard surfaces such as ice or packed snow and the equally old conventional tobog- .gan is intended for use only in loose snow. A toboggan will not operate satisfactorily on a hard surface (except, of course, where a guided track is provided) and a sled will not perform properly in soft snow. There is a definite need for a snow vehicle which has the advantages both of a conventional sled and a toboggan, as well as other advantages, but which is free of most of their limitations.

One object of this invention is to provide a ski sled having the advantages referred to above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ski sled having skis providing a sliding ground support designed to function properly on loose snow or on a hard surface and having a front ski which is mounted for lateral turning movement so that the sled may be steered by controls readily accessible to the rider.

A further object of the invention is to provide a snow sled as described above in which the front steering ski is also pivoted for rocking movement about a transverse axis enabling the ski in effect to float up and down over natural irregularities encountered along the terrain. A still further object of the invention is to provide a snow sled equipped with a novel braking attachment.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, especially when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a ski sled embodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the ski sled.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are sectional views taken along the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, on FIGURE 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the ski sled is generally indicated by the reference character 1@ and has a body 12 composed of a front body portion 14 and a rear body portion 16. The rear body portion includes a horizontal platform 18 beneath which are provided a pair of ski support blocks 20r secured in laterally spaced relation along opposite edges thereof. A pair of rear skis 22 are rigidly secured to the support blocks 20 as illustrated. The rear skis are laterally opposed to one another and extend in parallel relation longitudinally or in the direction of length of the sled body.

The front body portion 14 is flat and elongated in the direction of length of the body, as shown. The flat front body portion occupies a vertical plane and the rear end portion thereof rests upon and is rigidly secured to the platform 18. The rear part of the front portion 14 is notched out to provide the horizontal supporting surface 24, and the horizontal seat 26 is centrally supported by the surface 24. The rear portion of the seat is also supported by the upright brace 27 carried by platform 18,

2 the brace 27 providing a broad support for the seat. Th back rest 28 projects up from the rear edge of the seat, and further bracing is provided by the member 30 which projects up from the platform and is cut along its front edge to provide a full surface-to-surface engagement with the brace 27 and back rest 28. These parts are of course rigidly secured together to provide a unitary construction. Metal bracing 32 is also provided, being secured at their upper ends to the member 30 and at their lower ends to the platform 18.

The lower edge of the front body portion is cut out at 34 to accommodate a mounting for the front steering ski generally indicated at 36. The front steering ski supports a support block 3S secured to its upper side, and a half circular disc 40 is rigidly secured to the top surface of block 38. Overlying the disc 40 is a second disc 42. These discs are flat and supported for relative rotation by a vertical bolt 44. The bolt 44 is disposed with its axis vertical and extends through both discs. The lower end of the bolt threads into the lower disc 40 to rotate therewith, and the head of the bolt on its upper end is sustained by a washer 46 embedded in the material of the upper disc. The upper disc rotates on the bolt. The bushing 48 loosely encircles the shank of the bolt to facilitate the relative rotation between the upper disc and the bolt, the bushing being capable of rotating with respect to both the upper disc and the bolt. A relatively thin flat plate 50 of plastic is disposed between the two discs. The pivot bolt 44 passes through this plate, which is rotatable relative to both discs. The opposed surfaces of the plate and the discs are covered with a suitable lubricant to facilitate the relative rotative movement. The disc is of a material which is impermeable to the lubricant.

The upper disc is carried by the front body portion 14 by a member 54. The member 54 comprises a pair of angle brackets 56 one flange of each being rigidly secured to disc 42 and the other flange being pivoted to the front body portion 14 by the vtransverse horizontal bolt 58. Hence the lski can be turned laterally about the vertical axis of pin 44 and can rock about the horizontal taxis of pin 58.

A pair of levers 60 are provided for turning the front steering ski. Levers 60 are generally upright and disposed on opposite sides of the front body portion and are pivoted Ithereto by a common pivot pin 62 which extends horizontally and transversely with respect to 4the sled body. Circular plates 64 are secured to the body between the levers and the body, through which the pivot pin 62 passes. The upper ends of the levers are tipped wtih rubber caps 66 and are in position for convenient manipulation by a person occupying the seat 26. The lower ends of the levers are pivoted to the rear ends of rigid tie rods 68, and rigid links 70 are pivoted respectively to the front ends of lthe tie rods and to the disc 40 at opposite sides of its pivot. Hence by moving the upper ends o-f vthe levers forwardly and rearwardly, the steering ski can be turned right or left as desired. Only a limited turning movement is allowed, and this is in the interest of safety.

A brake is provided for the snow sled comprising a flat metal plate which is hinged `along one edge to the under side of the platform 18 for swinging about a horizontal transverse axis, as indicated at 78. The rear edge or swinging edge of the plate is normally held at a level above the common level of the three skis by springs 79. It will be noted that the rear edge of the plate is serrated or notched to provide braking teeth S which are adapted to bite into the ground and retard the forward motion of the sled. Means are provided to swing the plate 75 from the normal rearwardly extending inoperative position illustrated to a generally vertical position in which the toothed edge or swinging edge of the platel projects beneath the level of the skis for ground engagement. Such means includes the two levers 85 which are generally upright and pivoted intermediate their ends on the common pin 62. The lower ends are connected to the braking plate by cables 90 and the upper ends lare disposed for convenient manipulation by a person occupying the seat. The upper ends are provided with suitable rubber caps 92.

Foot rests 94 are secured to the front body portion, and a tow bar 96 is also provided. The two bar has an eyelet 9S on one end for engagement with the front hook 106 or the rear hook T102 to either push or pull the sled along the ground. When not in use, the tow bar is releasably held in position along the upper edge of the front body portion by clips 106. ln this position, shown in FIGURES l and 2, the tow bar simulates a rocket or like weapon.

In use, a rider will occupy the seat 26 and may rest his feet on the supports 94. The sled may be steered with ease by operating one or both of the levers 60. Normally the levers will be operated by both hands, moving one forwardly and the other rearwardly to negotiate a turn. However, since the levers and the tie rods are rigid, steering can be accomplished by the operation of one lever only. The brake levers 8S are also in position for easy operation it being possible for the operator to rest one hand on one set of steering and braking levers and his other hand on the other set so that turning or braking can be effected in an instant.

The front body portion 18 is notched or cut away to provide the hand grip 110. A person may place his hand in the grip 110, which is slanted downwardly and forwardly, and lift the sled with ease. The hand grip surface 110 is located directly vertically above the center of gravity of the sled so that when lifted the sled is in perfect balance. An additional rider may, of course, stand on the rear platform 18,

What l claim as my invention is:

l. A ski sled comprising an elongated sled body having a rear portion formed to provide a seat, said body having an upright at front portion elongated in the direction of length of the sled body, laterally spaced skis mounted on the rear portion of said body and disposed to extend longitudinally with respect to the body, a front steering ski for the sled normally disposed to extend longitudinally with respect to the body, said skis providing a sliding ground support for the sled, means for mounting said steering ski on the front portion of the body for lateral turning movement about a vertical axis, means for turning said steering ski comprising a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced rigid tie rods pivotally connected to the steering ski at their front ends on opposite sides of the vertical axis for turning movement of the ski, a pair of generally upright levers pivoted at 4an intermediate point of their length to opposite sides of the front body portion adjacent to said seat and pivoted at their lower ends to `the rear ends of said tie rods, the upper ends of said levers being located for convenient manipulation by an occupant.

2. A ski sled as in claim 1 having means `for braking the forward motion of the sled including a flat plate hinged to the under side of said body for swinging movement about a transverse axis and having teeth along its swinging edge, spring means normally holding said plate in an inoperative position in which its teeth are above the level of said skis, and manually operable means for swinging said plate about 4the hinge axis to an operative l position in which its teeth project beneath the level of the skis for ground engagement.

3. A ski sled as in claim 2 in which the means for swinging said braking plate comprises a pair of generally upright levers on opposite sides of the front body portion and pivoted thereto at a point intermediate their length for swinging movement about a common axis coinciding with the axis for swinging movement of the first mentioned levers, and cables connecting said braking plate and the lower ends of said last mentioned levers.

4. A ski sled comprising an elongated sled body having a rear portion formed to provide a seat, said body having an upright flat front portion elongated in the direction of length of the sled body, laterally spaced skis mounted on the rear portion of said body and disposed to extend longitudinally with respect to the body, a front steering ski for the sled normally disposed to extend longitudinally with respect to the body, said skis providing a sliding ground support for the sled, means for mounting said steering ski on the front portion of the body for lateral turning movement about a vertical axis, means for turning said steering ski comprising a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced rigid tie rods pivotally connected to the steering ski at their front ends on opposite sides of the vertical axis for turning movement of the ski, a pair of generally upright levers pivoted at an intermediate point of their length to rpposite sides of the front body portion adjacent to said seat and pivoted at their lower ends to the rear ends of said tie rods, the upper ends of said levers being located for convenient manipulation by an occupant, and means for braking the forward motion of the sled comprising a member mounted on the sled body, means normally holding said member in an inoperative position above the level of the skis, and manually operable means for moving said member to an inoperative position projecting beneath the level of the skis.

5. A ski sled comprising an elongated sled body having a rear portion formed to provide a seat, said body having an upright flat front portion elongated in the direction of length of the sled body, laterally spaced skis mounted on the rear portion of said body and disposed to extend longitudinally with respect to the body, a front steering ski for the sled normally disposed to extend longitudinally with respect to the body, said skis providing a sliding'ground support for the sled, means for mounting said steering ski on the front portion of the body for lateral turning movement about a vertical axis, means for turning said steering ski comprising a longitudinally extending rigid tie rod pivotally connected on the front end thereof to the steering ski at one side of the vertical axis for turning movement of the ski, and an upright lever pivoted at an intermediate point of its length to one side of the front body portion adjacent to said seat and pivoted at its lower end to the rear end of said tie rod, the upper end of said lever being located for convenient manipulation by an occupant.

6. A ski sled as in claim 5 in which the mounting for said steering ski includes a pair of flat superimposed discs one of which is rigidly secured to said steering ski to form a unit therewith, a vertical pivot pin connecting said discs together in superimposed relation for relative rotation about the axis of said pin, and means connecting the other of said discs to the front portion of said body.

7. A ski sled as in claim 6 having anti-friction means facilitating the turning movement of said steering ski, said anti-friction means including a thin flat plastic plate between said discs and lubricant between the plate and disc surfaces, said plate being impermeable to the lubricant.

8. A ski sled as in claim 5 having means for braking the forward motion of the sled including a at plate hinged to the under side of said body for swinging movement about a transverse axis and having teeth along its swinging edge, spring means normally holding said plate in an inoperative position in which its teeth are above the level fof said Skis, and manually operable means for swinging said plate about the hinge axis to an operative position in which its teeth project beneath the level of the skis for ground engagement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 144,746 De Lano Nov. 18, 1873 391,578 Burlingham Oct. 23, 1888 10 791,683 Fee June 6, 1905 875,723 Mouradck Jan. 7, 1908 6 Crutchfield I an. 2, 1912 Best Sept. 12, 1916 Winn Nov. 25, 1924 Roberts Dec. 6, 1927 Andrus Oct. 19, 1937 Schnell Aug. 5, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS France Oct. 25, 1937 Switzerland Mar. 23, 1908 Germany Sept. 23, 1909 

